More than 900 high school students from six counties had the opportunity to learn about careers in the construction industry during the 2008 Construction Career Days event at Exchange Park in Ladson, S.C., March 11 to 13.

Construction Career Days allowed students to talk with technical college representatives, commercial contractors, federal representatives and SCDOT personnel about employment opportunities in the construction industry. There were hands-on exercises and demonstrations of heavy equipment in action. Vendors had booths set up to provide information to the students, who were from Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Hampton, Orangeburg and Williamsburg counties.

One out of every 10 workers in the United States directly or indirectly makes his or her living in the construction industry. However, the construction industry is facing a severe shortage of skilled workers.

The event is sponsored by the South Carolina Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration (S.C. Division), S.C. Department of Education, Lowcountry Workforce Investment Board, Trident Workforce Investment Board, Upstate Workforce Development Board, Noisette Company LLC, Henkels & McCoy, Charleston County RoadWise, Charleston County and the South Carolina Department of Commerce.